Vacation Rental Photos That Help Your Listing Stand Out

Photos Stop the Scroll.

To really see gains from your short-term rental photos, focus on creating great ones. Photography for short-term rentals can be a very high return on investment item for rental owners. In this article we cover the aspects that actually matter in creating great real estate photos.

Why Photos Build Trust Before Anything Else

Guests can't physically walk through a property prior to booking. So images are the next best thing to a site visit. And just as guests would feel let down by a dirty or cramped actual space, they will feel let down by a poorly shot space.

According to Airbnb's own research, listings featuring professional photography make significantly more money per year than those featuring none. In other words, the quality of the photos featured on your rental listing greatly affects guests' trust in what you're offering.

Of course this is even more important when people are paying hundreds or thousands of dollars to stay in a space for days or weeks at a time. They want to be confident that the space will live up to the promise of your listing.

What Guests Actually Want to See

Guests aren't just looking for pretty pictures. They're trying to answer practical questions:

• Will we have enough space?
• Is the kitchen functional?
• Does the bedroom look clean and comfortable?
• What does the outdoor area look like?
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All of the above. A property owners photo set should contain photos of:

• Every bedroom, showing the bed setup clearly
• The kitchen with countertops clean and visible
• Living and dining spaces to provide size and scale information
• Bathrooms(yes, really, cleanliness matters to guests)
• Outdoor spaces, parking, and any shared amenities
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 Even details like stock coffee stations, snacks, and welcome baskets in the form of photos will be appreciated.

Common Photography Mistakes to Avoid

Many property photos fail to get the listing booked because of simple mistakes. Here are the common ones that you should try to avoid:

• ‍Poor lighting: The use of poor lighting can result in images of your property's interior looking much smaller than they actually are. By taking images during the day with lights on and blinds open you can ensure the images of your interior look as large as they actually are. But, tools like Pedra can also fix lighting, correct perspectives, and brighten spaces after the shoot - without a reshoot. ‍
• Clutter in the frame: It is very important to try and have all personal items, cleaning supplies, etc. out of the shots. Also, it is better to show empty shelves instead of cluttered ones.‍
• Low quality photos that are of very poor resolution or have been severely compressed. They can be so bad that they create an immediate negative impression of the property and make potential guests distrust you as a host.‍
• Some rooms are missing: Guests will wonder what is being hidden if certain rooms such as the bathrooms or bedrooms are not included in the photos of the property.‍
• No hero shot: Your exterior images need to showcase the property from the best angle(s) so that potential guests can get a sense of the overall property as well as the outside space.
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Local real estate and hospitality photographers typically charge anywhere from $150-$400 for a full property shoot. The property owner can make back that money within the first few bookings.

How Photos Fit Into A Professionally Managed Listing

Photos are important when they are combined with listings that are professionally managed. Each room in the property must be accurately described in the copy and any additional rules for renters outlined clearly.

Pricing must be competitive with other vacation rental properties in the local real estate market. But the single most important factor is that the property is licensed as a vacation rental in order to legally operate. A professionally managed property will have all of the features that guests are looking for including accurate listing information, well-written copy, competitive pricing, and quality professional photos.

Companies like Property Sourced Property Management approach this by treating every aspect of your vacation rental professionally to ensure your property is well managed to compete in the local real estate market. Which will help you to garner the highest number of bookings and most favorable reviews from guests.

Make Every Photo Count

Your listing is competing against many other listings in the same geographic area. It's your photos that tell potential guests that your short-term rental is well-managed, clean, and of value for the rent that you're charging. In essence, your photos can remove hesitation from potential guests, generate more inquiries, and fill your short-term rental calendar faster.

Get the licensing right. Get the management right. Then get the photos right. All three will go to make a short-term rental that your guests will trust and come back to.